SQL Server stores a table as a heap or as a balanced tree (B-tree). If you create a clustered index, a table is stored as a B-tree. As a general best practice, you should store every table with a clustered index because storing a table as a B-tree has many advantages, as listed here:
- You can control table fragmentation with the ALTER INDEX command using the REBUILD or REORGANIZE option.
- A clustered index is useful for range queries because the data is logically sorted on the key.
- You can move a table to another filegroup by recreating the clustered index on a different filegroup. You do not have to drop the table as you would to move a heap.
- A clustering key is a part of all nonclustered indexes. If a table ...
